The Canadian hip hop scene was established in the 1980s. Through a variety of factors,it developed much slower than Canada's popular rock music scene,and apart from a short-lived burst of mainstream popularity from 1989 to 1991,it remained largely an underground phenomenon until the early 2000s.
"Northern Touch" is a Canadian hip hop single,which was released in 1998 by Rascalz in collaboration with Checkmate,Kardinal Offishall,Thrust and Choclair. It is one of the most important individual songs in the history of Canadian hip hop,which almost singlehandedly transformed the genre from a largely ignored underground movement into a viable commercial endeavour.
Jason Drew Harrow,better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall,is a Canadian rapper,record producer,DJ,and record executive. Often credited as Canada's "hip hop ambassador",he is regarded as one of the country's best hip hop producers,and is best known for his distinctive reggae and dancehall-influenced style of hip hop.
Kareem Blake,better known by his stage name Choclair,is a Canadian rapper. He was one of the most successful Canadian rappers in Canada in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Choclair has been nominated for six Juno Awards,winning four.
Ghetto Concept is a Canadian hip-hop duo from Toronto,Ontario,composed of Kwajo Cinqo and Dolo. Infinite,who is currently a solo artist,is a former member of the group.
Black Jays is a Canadian independent record label,production company,and musical collective,specializing in hip-hop,R&B,and reggae music. Founded in 2000 by rappers Kardinal Offishall and Solitair,it was originally known as Silver House and the Girl (S.H.A.G.). In 2004,the group came to prominence after releasing a remix album and mixtape. The Toronto-based group's name is derived from the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team.
"Glory of Love" is a 1986 song performed by Peter Cetera,which he wrote and composed with his then-wife Diane Nini and David Foster. The song was recorded by Cetera shortly after he left the band Chicago to pursue a solo career. Featured in the film The Karate Kid Part II (1986),it was Cetera's first hit single after he left the band,reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100,and it was included on his album Solitude/Solitaire (1986),which Michael Omartian produced.
Fire and Glory is the third studio album by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall,released November 15,2005 on EMI/Virgin Records,exclusively in Canada. Two hit singles were released from the album,"Everyday (Rudebwoy)" and "Feel Alright".
Quest for Fire:Firestarter,Vol. 1 is the second studio album by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall. It was released on MCA Records,his first album for a major label. It is a recompilation album,which includes older songs and demos that he used to get signed. The lead single,"BaKardi Slang",became his first single to appear on a Billboard chart. The second single,"Ol' Time Killin'",was a minor hit. The album received generally favorable reviews from music critics.
Carl Abou Samah,better known by his stage name Karl Wolf,is a Lebanese-Canadian musician based in Toronto,Ontario,Canada. He has been a singer,songwriter,and producer since 2001,releasing his first solo album Face Behind the Face on MapleNationwide/Universal in 2006,followed by a second album Bite the Bullet in 2007. His third album Nightlife was released in 2009 followed by Finally Free in 2012,Stereotype in 2014 and WOW in 2015. His biggest hit has been a remake of Toto's "Africa" sampling from the song and providing new lyrics and arrangements. Through his company,Lone Wolf Management,Karl Wolf also manages a number of new artists. In 2015,he announced a new collaboration under the name BAE with Show Stephens,Brenda Mullen and producer MasterTrak. Wolf signed a new solo contract in Canada with British Columbia-based Cordova Bay Records as well as two new worldwide deals in Los Angeles,one for a publishing contract with BMG and another Digital "YouTube" deal with Collective Digital Studios. He co-wrote the OMI hit "Hula Hoop".
Eye &I is the debut album of Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall,released independently in December 1997,on Capitol Hill Music,and distributed by St. Clair Entertainment. The album was critically acclaimed. One single,"On wit da Show",was released from the album.
Not 4 Sale is the fourth studio album by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall,released September 9,2008 on Kon Live/Geffen Records. It is his second international major-label album after Quest for Fire:Firestarter,Vol. 1,released in 2001. It was a critical success,and included the top five Billboard Hot 100 single "Dangerous",and the minor hit "Numba 1 ".
"Dangerous" is a song by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall featuring American singer Akon. Produced by DJ Kemo and hAZEL,it was the first single from his fourth album,Not 4 Sale. It was released to radio in March 2008,and on iTunes on April 1. On the week of May 13,at the American iTunes Store,the song was offered as a free download. The song won the award for Single of the Year at the 2009 Juno Awards. In January 2023,the single was certified 4×platinum by Music Canada and 3×platinum by the RIAA.
"BaKardi Slang" is a hip-hop song by Kardinal Offishall. Produced by Solitair,it was the first single from his second album Quest for Fire:Firestarter,Vol. 1. The single was released in Canada in 2000,before being re-released in the U.S. the following year. It became his first single to appear on a Billboard chart,as well as his first Top 40 hit as a solo artist in Canada.
"Husslin'" is a hip-hop song by Kardinal Offishall. It was the only single from his EP of the same name. The song also appears on his second album,Quest for Fire:Firestarter,Vol. 1. Released in early 2000,the 12" single quickly became an underground favorite,and it was #1 on many college radio charts in the U.S. After its release,radio-tracking publication Gavin Report called it "By far,the hottest 12-inch on the platter right now. With three cuts to choose from,you can't go wrong." The song has a catchy chorus and a powerful horn sample.
"Beautiful" is the third single from Akon's third studio album,Freedom. The song features American pop singer Colby O'Donis and a rap verse from Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall. "Beautiful" was released to radio on January 6,2009. The song has also been released in other three international versions,with different featured artists replacing both Colby's vocals and Kardinal's rapping:in Portuguese with Brazilian singer Negra Li,in Dutch with Dutch singer Brace,and in Spanish with Mexican singer Dulce María. The original version peaked at number nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States,the original version peaked within the top ten of the charts in Israel and the United Kingdom.
"Money Jane" is a song recorded by Canadian DJ group Baby Blue Soundcrew featuring Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall,Jamaican musician Sean Paul,and Canadian singer-songwriter Jully Black. It was released by Universal Music Canada in 2000,and was the first single from the group's debut studio compilation album Private Party Collectors Edition;a remix was included on Offishall's 2001 album Quest for Fire:Firestarter,Vol. 1. "Money Jane" is a Canadian hip hop and dancehall song with lyrics about a wealthy woman who provides financial and material support for her male companion. The song is noted for its influence on Toronto's hip hop music scene,and is credited with launching Paul's international music career.
Canadian rapper and record producer Kardinal Offishall has released five studio albums,one extended play (EP),thirty-three singles,and five mixtapes.
"Freak" is a single by British musician Estelle. The song,which features Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall,was produced by French DJ David Guetta. It contains an interpolation of "Back to Life" by music group Soul II Soul in the chorus. "Freak" was featured on the soundtrack to Step Up 3D and the reissue of David Guetta's album One Love,entitled One More Love.
X-Quisite was an R&B Canadian girl group. The trio made up of Nicole Holness,Melanie Fiona Hallim,Andreena Mill and later in 2003 new member,Nirvana Savoury was signed to Linus Entertainment soon after the group was established in 2002. The group released their self-titled debut studio album X-Quisite in 2003. In 2004,the album earned the group a Juno Award nomination for "R&B/Soul Recording of the Year". The group had a number of singles from their debut album,most notably "Bad Girl","No Regrets" and "Sassy Thang". The group disbanded in 2005,with all three members moving on to pursue solo music careers.
